ROADS OF THE NORTH.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 221, 18 September 1930, Page 21

ROADS OF THE NORTH.

METAtLING AT TANGOWAHINE

QUESTION OF GOVERNMENT

SUBSIDY.

PROPOSAL TO SETTLERS.

r (By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) DARGAVILLE, Wednesday. The question of metalling the roads of the Tangowahine settlement was Thought up at the Hobson County Coun--cil meeting in a letter from the member for the district, the Right ,Hqn. J. G. Coates, who forwarded a letter, dated August 23, from the Minister of Public Works, the Hon. W. B. Taverner, which stated that the question of the Tango"wahine settlement roads had been gone into thoroughly some months ago, and that it was decided that the Government would not be justified in assisting to a more liberal extent than a £1 for £1 subsidy. The estimated cost of metalling is somewhere in the vicinity . of £5600. ■ -

In an effort to assist settlers, the letter stated, the Lands Department 'was informed that if the settlers would agree to treat a free grant of £450 as portion of the Government's £1 for £1 when they had arranged for the financing of their half of', the cost of . completing the metalling, it would "be considered. Since that date, however, nothing further had been heard in the matter, and it--was 'not known whether the settlers were ..agreeable to accept the conditions mentioned. : • Settlers Heavily Rated. • J Mr. Carpenter said that settlers had just received their rate' notices, and some of ttiem had to pay .out £30. They were rated for special'rates,- including the Dargaville-Whangarei main ♦highway.- - -. ~

The- county chairman, Mr. Trounson, said it was a scandalous thing that the Government could force .the county .to take over access roads unmetalled, and that" settlers should be aeked to raise a loan with Avhich to metal' their roads. •Mr. Sominerville said he thought they should take the -. £450 offered, and later they might get a similar sum on the same lines. , . ......

The Chairman: It would weaken the settlers' case.

Mr. Ballantyne; The settlers should not have gone on the sections until the roads were metalled;

The Chairman: If they had not done so, others probably would.

Twenty-three Settlers,

Mr. Carpenter said that eight settlers were supplying the factory, and there were about 15 on side roads. He would like to ask Mr. Holster and Mr. Sommerville, of the Tangiteroria riding, in whose riding the settlement was, whether they would agree to the whole of the rates raised'in the blocks. affected being earmarked for expenditure on their roads. He had figured it out at about £100 a year, after deducting special rates and cost of administration. The chairman said it would be better for the two riding members to agree to set aside a fixed sum equal to the amount asked for. '•

It was decided that the county clerk .prepare particulars of rates and valuations as between the two ridings concerned for. submission to the next meeting of the council.